Elio Sarpi, a resident of North Melbourne, has converted a project of passion and residential curiosity into a cult that continues on Instagram through their account, North and West Melbourne houses.
The IT worker travels through the streets of both suburbs that take photographs of houses that arouse their interest, chasing historical records and count of counting that have been forgotten for a long time.
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Elio Sarpi explores historical houses in North Melbourne and West Melbourne. Image: Elio Sarpi
These Victorian homes of the past have also become an interesting fodder for the locals, which not only learn about houses and commercial properties in the suburbs, but have the key to an intriguing past of such characters who lived and worked there.
“Investigating a house feels like solving a puzzle,” says Sarpi.
“I quickly became addicted once I started. I don’t see television anymore; instead, I spend my afternoons investigating houses that I have photographed recently, or immersing in the thousands that I have documented over the years.”
Elio Sarpi explores historical houses in North Melbourne and West Melbourne. Image: Elio Sarpi
The project really began once Covid began. An opportunity to wind the streets and take photos of the Victorian heritage buildings and bring their stories, since they were built to those who lived in them.
With 24.4k followers on Instagram, SARPI investigates his leisure; or being buried at the bottom of a proverbial burrow or detective work.
“I began to investigate the stories that Behind these houses: their history, architecture and the lives that shape them,” says Sarpi.
“I am discovered some really incredible stories and connections: actors, pianists, artists, singers, bands, photographers, opera singers, only a general governor.”
Elio Sarpi explores historical houses in North Melbourne and West Melbourne. Image: Elio Sarpi
Its site covers migration stories, robberies, house fire and other houses linked to royalty.
“I recently discovered that I now live in a house where a Chinese translator lived once. He had come to Australia to work in the Goldfields,” says Sarpi.
The local community is also excellent for Intel-Fre to contact other bits that are useful in their suburbs exploration.
Many familiar faces called the House of the Suburbio, also, including Acress Sigrid Thornton, who recently sold his house in Canning Street, and the personality of Radio Virginia Trioli, which has lived in northern Melbourne since the 1980s.
The Limerick Castle Hotel, North Melbourne. Image: Elio Sarpi
Sarpi also explores hotels that are still in many corners in northern Melbourne. Limerick Castle, who was first graduated in 1863, has a colorful accommodation and was once directed by Richmond Football Club William John Titus [or Jack as he was known from 1908-1978].
Then it is the Ukraine Church on Dryburgh Street, which was designed by the architects Smith & Tracey and completed in 1963.
Some of Sarpi’s favorite discoveries
Lamberti’s house on Queensberry Street
This beautiful house, built in 1962, was designed by Johannes (John) Wallinga (1909-1970), an architect born in Groningen, Netherlands.
The Lamberti house on Queensberry Street. Image: Elio Sarpi
The Lamberti family once owned a prosperous music store on Victoria Street, for which Wallinga also designed the interior. When the family contacted me after publishing the house for the first time, they could not remember the name of the architect. With some useful clues of Mrs. Lamberti, now in her ninety years, and some help from the city of Melbourne, we were able to confirm Wallinga as the designer.
Aisle
A great and adorned Victorian residence built in 1884, Milton Hall was, in more recent times, the home of Hugh O’Neill Ao (1933-2022).
Coincidentally, I published a photo of the house the same day he died and recovered messages informing me about his death.
Milton Hall. Image: Elio Sarpi
The family then approached, invited me to visit the house and kindly shared their stories. I asked his daughter to share some appreciated memories of growing at home, which I presented in a tracking post.
Two terraces of 1869 West Melbourne in Abbotsford Street
In the 1970s, these historical terraces became the Chaumière, a French restaurant directed for almost 30 years of Géraldine and Gérald Georges. The chef was Jean-François ennnière.
1869 West Melbourne Terraces in Abbotsford Street. Image: Elio Sarpi
The couple painted the balconies of both terraces in the colors of the French flag and added ‘1789’ to the front, a wink at the beginning of the French Revolution. I shared an old fantastic photo in my publication about the place.
One of the current owners commented, mentioning that it was a favorite place for the Labor Party, and that Gough Whitlam Hero his opening dinner there.
Florence Cottage in Capel Street West Melbourne
Built in 1865, it became the home of the Italian immigrant Matteo Cristafaro in 1934. There, an anti-fascist group, the Italian group against the war, co-founded to gather the Italians-Australians against fascism and support the communist party.
By 1942, he helped form the Italian Movimento Libera, celebrating his first manifestation in 1943. The anti -fascists were as rioters who brought foreign conflicts to Australia.
Cottage of Florence. Image: Elio Sarpi
I published the house with the song Bella Ciao, the Italian popular song that was used as a hymn for anti -fascist resistance and in all the jump as a hymn or freedom.
After my publication, his family approached, they were very grateful for my publication. They knew that I lived in the area, but they didn’t know they lived in Florence Cottage, they sent me a photo of him that I also published.
Charlton Cottage in Flemington Road, North Melbourne known as Paris
One of my followers introduced me to a 94 -year -old man who was taken home to Charlton Cottage as a newborn. I had the privilege of meeting him and spent a couple of hours listening to stories about his childhood in northern Melbourne.
Charlton Cottage. Image: Elio Sarpi
He was sure of the exact number of his old house, but I was able to track her. I took a picture, investigated its story and shared a couple of publications about it.
Later, when I heard I was in the hospital, I print the photo. The person who originally connected us, the child took him to him. He was very proud of that photo: he showed it to all doctors, nurses and visitors. Unfortunately, he died. I am very grateful to have your documented memories.
Ned Kelly Errol Street Connection
These two -story Italian Renaissance style terraces in Errol Street, North Melbourne, date back to 1912. They were built as rental properties for Joseph Grigg, son of George Grigg, an outstanding coaches of the nineteenth century.
George Grigg owned the elegant three -story terrace at North Melbourne primary school.
The Joseph Grigg who commissioned these terraces of Errol Street can be the same man who created the iconic Ned Kelly armor suit.
According to reports, a skilled blacksmith and a coaches builder in southern Melbourne, Joseph played a remarkable role in one of the most infamous legends in Australia.
Decades before, at the end of the age of 20, Joseph directed a blacksmithy in Glenrowan when Ned Kelly and his gang broke up, forcing him to manufacture the iron armor later used in Kelly’s last confrontation at the Glenrowan hotel.
Keep under lock and key, Joseph used pieces of plows and harvest machines to build the suit. When the work was done, Kelly generously paid him in gold sovereigns. Joseph quickly reported the incident in a confidential meeting with the authorities, who told him to keep the payment, recognizing that he had won it without his own guilt.
After Kelly’s capture in July 1880, the crowds gathered at the North Melbourne station to take a look at the infamous Bushranger while transported to the former Melbourne prison. Only four months later, on November 11, Kelly was hanged. Obasurnffy, Joseph’s participation in the elaboration of the armor remained a secret until his death in 1934.
Opening the history of history
“The first thing I do is consult the Sands and McDougall directories: annual directories published in Melbourne through the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. They like a mixture of a telephone guide, business directory, registration of the local government of MEFLEF VICTABLE ONLINE. 1860 to 1974,” says Sarpi.
Then he draws the current number of the house through the years to determine what would have bone in the past, pointing out who lived there and who the neighbors were.
House on Howard Street. Image: Elio Sarpi
“From there, I immerse myself in Trove, the free online platform developed by the National Library of Australia. I also use the Victoria Public Registry Office (Prov), which includes records related to family history, local government, land and property, immigration and pasta.
“There are innumerable resources, the Victoria State Library has a useful video that presents the basic concepts and describes many of the Aviaje resources. Also occasionally they execute free sessions about the investigation of the history of their home.”
Little Rector Image: Elio Sarpi
And, of course, there are your followers online.
“They also send me potential customers and share a beautiful personal social history and photos that are priceless,” says Sarpi.
“When you think of how many lives they have gone through a single house over the years, the potential stories are endless. The people of saying” if these walls could speak “, now, with the help of the community through the shared and documented memories with documented documents of documented documented documented documented documented documented documented documented documented documented documented documented documented documented. Documented documented that was really documented.
“One of the most gratifying parts is to help families re -connect with the homes of their ancestors. It has become a project that continues to grow and gather unexpectedly.”
